Y2HH

AdAware is kind of crappy -- misses a lot of real spyware and removes stupid stuff like tracking cookies while making normal people feel safe, when it's not really doing much. SpyBot, however, is a very good (and free) spyware remover. All that said, the best spyware remover is the spyware you don't put on your system. Don't browse wierd websites, don't click on links you don't know/understand, and don't open emails from yourself or other people with wierd subject lines...and you never have to worry about spyware.

QUOTE(29thandPoplar @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 10:37 AM) Hey interesting perspective and I know that Jewel at 30th and Halsted. There used to be a huge lumber yard there which was also where the BP Amoco is now. There was a Kroger across the street where that thrift store is, I walk by there all the time. Sorry - Now back to the Buehrle angst! I live right down the street from there off 33rd/Halsted, around the corner from Mitchells bar...

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 10:31 AM) I will be really pissed off and agravatted if this came down to a no trade clause. BUehrle is giving up money and years to stay with this team and they won't give him a no trade clause. f***ing unbelievable. For once this organization should return some loyalty. Buehrle is being extremely loyal to this franchise and he is getting absolutely nothing in return. I am getting really turned off by this whole situation if this is in fact because of a no trade clause. I for one would absolutely agree that the person responsible for not letting him have a no trade clause should be immediately fired. Obviously you can't fire the owner, so if it is his idea then there is nothing we can do about it. If it is Kenny's or anyone else's they should be gone immediately. From a business prespective, no trade clauses are terrible...absolutly terrible. You're basically paying 56M dollars for an "asset", not unlike buying a home or a stock on the open market...and you're going to tell me that as part of the deal, I cannot resell you or trade you? Thanks, but no thanks. I don't blame the organization for this at all...closed-ended no trade clauses are bad business simply because we cannot see what the future holds. A more open no-trade clause is one thing, such as, you cannot trade me to these specific teams. I could understand a clause like that, but a flat out "you cannot trade or sell me no matter what clause" is bad in any form of business...it's just beyond stupid to enter into agreements such as this.

Not to burst the very opinionated bubbles around here, but Buehrle's trade value was NOT driven down by this...at all. That's not how business works. Before you say things like this, everyone needs to think it through from a business/we want to win now prespective. His value is sky high for one simple reason...competition. Boston knows that if another team gets Buehrle, it makes them stronger. Other contending teams know this, too. None of these teams want to see Buehrle go to a team they are in direct competition against for the ALCS/ALDS/World Series. If Team A gets close to a deal with Buehrle, don't think for a second KW wouldn't go to the other teams and say, "I'm about to trade him here for X and X...care to counter?" Hell yes they care to counter...even if it's just a rent-a-player, some of these teams would easily sweeten up their deals to keep Buehrle out of the hands of their enemies. And that's why his value is still sky high, whether we are willing to resign him or not...

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 09:28 AM) Actually my point is valid. Chase was never asked to write for the masses, Shakespeare was told how to end his shows. Chase was given free reign. The masses followed him. Whether or not you like that style is entirely up to you. My original post was never intended to sway opinion, it was just mine. You took it personally. But I will carry on and never stop believin' Don't get me wrong, I loved the Sopranos...but during the first few seasons the writing seemed tighter and with purpose...the last few seasons were very hit or miss for me. Although the ending got people talking -- it wasn't a true ending. I just dislike the fact that "life goes on"...I get that, as in real life this is how it works...but I don't need a mob-themed television show to tell me something so obvious. For the record, I'm glad (at least IMO) that Tony lived through it all. I wasn't necessarily looking forward too the Goodfellas or Casino endings (flip or murder), since I've already seen those movies -- and I liked them the first time around and didn't want Sopranos doing it all over again.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 08:53 AM) I'm sorry, but I've seen hundreds of movies, read hundreds of books that did not have complete endings and left things abrupt. Maybe Fox can have Jack Bauer kill more people for you and you won't have to think when you watch TV. You were obviously watching the wrong show. So don't read my post if you have no interest in my points. But thanks for calling some of them crap and being sarcastic. You seem to know how to have a mature discussion. I see why this great show frustrated you, now. You couldn't handle it. Oh...By the way, your Romeo and Juliet reference is not valid. Shakespeare wrote for the masses. His language was sheer poetry and beautiful, but his plotlines weren't. They were "soap-opera"-esque in their plotlines and contrivences. They were to be wrapped up neat and tidy because theat was expected then and by the audiences. Bad analogy. This is equilivant to telling a mac user that PC's can do the same stuff...you'll never quite convince them no matter how true it is... The Sopranos had it's compelling moments...but it wasn't what you and every other die hard is trying to make it, not to me anyway. To you it may be this greeat amazing story, and that's well and good...but the ending wasn't some sort of masterpiece, it was left open ended so if they feel like it, they can someday continue on... And sorry, but the romeo and juliet reference IS valid. Chase wrote for the masses too. Or do you consider yourself special in that lot of MILLIONS upon MILLIONS who watched the Sopranos? It's YOUR point that isn't valid, because the Sopranos was mass marketed to the masses. And because modern day audiences have come to accept garbage non-endings doesn't mean my analogy was bad because people at one time expected things to END for better or worse. So please...carry on my wayward son. And for the record, I watch THREE shows on television. Dexter. Sopranos. The Shield. I can honestly say, I've never watched a single episode of 24, so you're refrence to the show doesn't mean much to me, because I don't really understand the reference. ...and the ending was simple. People are just reading wayyyy to far into it. Tony Soprano professed his love for the White Sox, and the show ended.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 08:31 AM) How so? You don't know a lot about David Chase than. I think the last episode seperated two groups of fans who watched the show. One group who watched for the stories, characters, and to be made to think, and the other group who watched just to see murders, even if they meant nothing. The show was always more art than entertainment. David Chase created an ending that people will be talking about in TV history. I have a feeling some people would of been happier if it turned out like Bob Newhart and the last scene was Tony waking up in a hotel and it was all a dream. How so? Are you seriously asking that? And maybe it's you that doesn't know much about David Chase, or anyone else that likes money in the world. Seriously, I cannot believe you made that statement...it's just so beyond arrogant. Yea...and you're David Chase's best friend, right?! I guarantee Chase likes money...or he wouldn't have kept stretching the show as HBO request he do. How so because Sopranos was meant to be 3 seasons, NOT 6. It was S T R E T C H E D! Why was it stretched? Money. Ratings. Seriously, I know the episodes that CHASE wrote or co-worte have a LOT of good stuff in them, I'm not saying they don't...but don't for a second think it wasn't money driven. Chase never wanted the show to go on this long, neither did a lot of the actors. But...money talks. And BS excuses walk.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 03:42 AM) A wonderful final episode to a landmark series that NEVER settled for standard TV/Mafia cliches...no matter how much the public demanded of it. David Chase created a living, breathing work of art in a medium that is dominated by predictable fare that pushes "ratings" first and "integrity" second. Ultimately , The Sopranos was just that...the story about a family. And the show ended like it begin with the Soprano family eating and unsure about their fate. Life goes on and this series was never shy about it's focus on that sentiment. Chase was never tidy with with all plot points...because life isn't tidy folks. I know many wanted the story to have a clean ending because it brings closure. But if you wee really expecting that, I think you have been watching a different show since 1999. I expected this ending...one chapter closed and the next to begin away from our eyes. As for the abrupt ending? I thought my cable went out too. But I see it as NOTHING to get mad over. Think about it. If the show ended 10 seconds later with Meadow walking in and sitting down then a fade to black...this would have been better? Does this ten seconds make or break the series?!? No...also that kind of ending would give the audience a false sense of security about the Sopranos, that everything would be all right. But, my friends, that is not the case. I know we have invested years with them and have grown to love this family. We want that sense of security. But Chase knows that is not truthful. That would be giftwrapping the entire series in a lie. I think we expect more from this great show. The abrupt ending was just that. Removing any sense of security you have about them. No symbolic nature to it. Their lives with forever be "looking over the shoulder", "denial" and "depression". This is life the enitre family chose. There is no backing out. Tony, Carm, AJ and Meadow are all now involved in it. The ending made you, the audience, feel anxious, nervous and angry. Just like the Sopranos will feel every day from now on. David Chase just welcomed you into the family...finally. Oh ok, it's all better now! I've seen the light! As a matter of fact, from now on, I hope every book I read, every movie I see and every song I hear ends abruptly without an actual "ending" so I can feel as if I'm more "part of the story." That combined with a dash of, "because that's how real life is", doesn't make it work, it doesn't make it better, and no, it's not all right by me. This was a 6+ year song without a final verse. This was a movie without an ending. This was a book missing the last few chapters. That's well and good for REAL LIFE, but I already have one of those. You see, I get to deal with the fact my parents will someday die, that I will get old (if lucky enough), and eat dinner with MY family, the family I choose to be a part of through marriage and friendship. The Sopranos were NOT my family, nor did I ask nor want to be "welcomed into it". It was a short story, not meant to carry on forever after, no matter what anyone says. This decision was driven by money. Period. Imagine Romeo and Juliet without it's ending. Yea...it would suck. Sure, it could have been left up to our imaginations, but the definitive ending is what sent it down in history. Here is my issue with David Chase. It's clear this was about ego tripping after the first few seasons booming success. The very fact he finds it "funny" that true fans of the show were bothered by things like the un-resolved Russian storyline show this. It wasn't about making a statement or leaving things unresolved because they were meant to be unresolved...no, instead, it was because he found it funny! Chase has made it clear on a FEW occassions that he didn't finish some storylines because it bothered the fans and he found it funny! WTF is that?! He wasn't making a documentary that goes on after the show ends (such as Global Warming, or whatever other cause you may or may not believe in). This was a FICTIONAL story, and it needed a definitive ending. Instead, what we got was a cop out...which they can continue a few years later in a movie if they so choose. And why?! Because...nothing happened. Yet another case of a modern day writer weasling his way out of having to tell the end -- because there is still potential money to be made after a few years of vacation! M. E. H. I don't read books or watch movies to "come to my own conclusion". This wasn't a choose-your-own-adventure. So any excuses people come up with for how brilliant Chase was...I'm not interested in. Because unlike you, I like when my movies, music and books have an ENDING. Even if I don't always like the ending -- at least there is one. Oh, and as for the Chase had integrity and wasn't after ratings thing...that's a clear load of crap, since Sopranos was never supposed go this many seasons -- it was CLEARLY stretched out to make more money because of TV ratings, (ratings that steadily declined since it's peak season 3 or 4). The storyline was becoming watered down with inconsequential characters and flat out bad/boring writing in the latter seasons, and anyone watching could tell.

It was a cop-out of an ending. Simply put, it was a storyteller that couldn't decide on a real ending, so he left it open ended. It's like reading a book, a solid beginning, a very gripping middle...and the final chapter is blank... If I wanted to write a movie, or finish writing someone elses story, I'd write my own -- and that's not what this was about...it was merely a cowardly way of writing a non-ending to an unresolved story. The Sopranos wasn't real. It wasn't life. It's not supposed to go on...and on...and on...like the song says. Life does that. We don't need our movies too, also.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Jun 11, 2007 -> 01:43 PM) I did like the movie references in the final scene - the godfather/bathroom allusion, and the Bonnie and Clyde nod with Meadow trying to park the car. The problem with that is...doesn't that model car actually park itself? WTF with that stupid non ending.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 11, 2007 -> 11:27 AM) Similar to Vito being "Fatass in Bakery" when Christopher flipped out on the kid behind the counter then a season later he's a regular character but not the same person. This is merely Soprano fans reaching for the stars trying to explain the cop-out ending of all endings. I take Chase to issue with him trying to make the Sopranos "real". It's not real. It's a television show. And like books, movies and shows in general, they have a beginning/middle/end, because that's how it works... Meh.

QUOTE(Texsox @ May 25, 2007 -> 04:31 PM) Another possibility is hotels, restaurants, gas stations, rental car companies, will place a "hold" on a dollar amount to be certain your charges will go through. Once you settle up the hold is released and the correct bill is entered, But what I suspect happened here was either A. An employee figured to make a little extra or B. They saw the total and accidenatlly entered it as the tip. My first call would be to the bar, then your bank. A "hold" should never be more than 1$ unless they say so up front -- not to mention, on your e-bill (online) it should say "temp" next to the charge, designating that it was a temporary max test. Temp charges are simply a test to see if the credit line exists -- if the card is maxed, the 1$ temp charge will fail. Like I said, nobody should be temping 20$ without telling you about it, ever. I worked in the credit card PCI industry, and I'm not even sure if that's legal...then again, it's possibly he/she simply forgot to tell them about the 20$ temp, but for some reason I doubt it...because it should be marked as a temp credit line check on his e-bill.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 25, 2007 -> 01:55 PM) Some of the best advice. I have been doing alot of free weights lately to tone up and work on my stablizing muscles, so obviously my dumbbell bench wont be as heavy as my barbell. But I see these guys doing curls, incline etc and just having the worst form ive ever seen. I always thought that 8-10 perfect reps work you more than 15 of the poorest reps you can do. Its better to feel the improvements and the resistance yourself than try and be the guy who picks up the biggest weight. Rock, I've found that 6-8 reps on curls are more than enough. The bicep is a very small muscle, which people tend to overwork, so 6-8 solid reps using a slow negative is the best way to maximize your workout. Also, the best advice I can give anyone to maximize any workout, is to visualize your muscle sans skin. Think of the human body without any skin on it -- and visualize THAT muscle doing the bulk of the lift...sounds absurd, but try it, you'll find it penetrates deeper into the muscle because you're brain tends to force your assist muscles to overcompensate at almost all times to perform the desired action. Visualize the lone muscle helps keep the focus on that muscle alone.

In modern America, 21 is quite a young age to get married, especially considering how this country no longer takes marriage seriously, something I find very sad. Meh.

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ May 25, 2007 -> 11:05 AM) You make some good points, but I have to disagree with a few. Weights are one of the few ways you can actually improve your quickness and speed. Sprinters lift heavy weights in short durations to improve their burst while distance runners lift lower weights with more repetitions to improve stamina. No, having a bodybuilders physique is not good for any athlete, but you can have a ripped body as long as you implement stretching and flexibility with your repetitions. As for free weights, it's a great way to build up muscles in your body that wouldn't be normally worked by machines. There's no need to start out with heavy free weights to hurt yourself, start out with something easier like 5-10 pounds and build from there. There's nothing wrong with machine weights to supplement your routine either, I'm not saying that. But as others have said, learn the proper technique for each motion, not only for safety, but also the proper technique will help you gain muscle and burn fat quicker. Also, stay away from Trans fats as much as possible, and Polysaturated fats can actually be good for your muscle growth as odd as that sounds. Excellent points. From personal experience, people in the gym get into a very competitive mindset. When the guy next to the beginner is lifting heavier weights, they naturally want to try to do that, too, even knowing they shouldn't. In my years going to the gym, another observation of mine, and tell me if you've noticed the same, 90% of the people lifting have no idea what they're doing, though if you asked them about something, they'd swear it's the proper way. It took me quite a few years to realize my own mistakes, and make major and minor form changes, and that's WITH reading numerous books and magazines on the subject. I'm a big believer in the negative and I feel the negative is what shows pure strength. Don't show me what you can lift, but show me what you can control with a slow negative. For example, I see people wide-lat pulling 250 pounds on the cable machines with their improper cheat form (which allows for greater weight), but these same people can't do one wide armed pullup. Lat pulldowns show me how well a person can cheat, while pullups show me how strong their backs actually are. To use a Hawkism here, show me a guy who cheats with back exercises, and I'll show you a guy with big arms. I'm a pretty fast runner myself, not a super fast sprinter or anything, but I did mark a 4.18 (margin of error could make that 4.25 or so) from home to first...but I'm sure to some around here that's slow. That said, I've never really done anything to become fast -- I always just was, and when I did try to use weightlifting to improve my speed further, I found it actually slowed me down. That's why I say it depends on the individual persons bodytype/genetics in response to conditioning.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 25, 2007 -> 10:54 AM) Has anyone ever been f***ed over by a bar or restaurant on the tip line for using a credit card? Last Saturday up in Ames, I bought 3 drinks for $20 and even though I had enough cash, I whipped out my credit card to pay for it. I remember leaving a $5 tip on the line and writing the total to be $25 below it. I was looking for the charge in my statements online since then, and I noticed it didn't get charged until yesterday. The f***ers made a charge for $20 and then another charge for $25. Now I know I had some drinks in me, but I know what I wrote, and I even told my buddy about the possibility of this situation before the charge was made. I don't want to call it in just yet because this is my debit card and they'll probably freeze the account and I have bills to pay. Should I talk to the bar, cops, and/or credit company? Or just eat the $20 and not deal with the hassle? Call your credit card company and dispute the charge -- tell them the bill SHOULD have been 25$, which is all you authorized to be charged. The credit card company won't get mad, don't worry -- and they have a customer defense department that will take it up with the bar/resturant that charged you. They also shouldn't "freeze" the account, as it wasn't stolen, you're simply telling them what you authorized versus what was actually charged.

As soon as "statistics" are thrown around by either side of the fence, the arguement becomes pure bulls***. These polls are always so fixed it's not even worthwhile looking at them, nor using them as ammo to argue your point of view on the war. The problem is with most wars it's impossible to tell if the results were successful because there is no alternate timeline to look at. What I mean by this is, if we had done nothing and 30 years later a nuclear bomb goes off in NY smuggled into the country and detonated by Saddam loyalists, people would look back and say wow...both Bush Sr AND his son, GW had the opportunity to get rid of that mad man and did nothing. But since he did do something, we won't be worrying about Saddam loyalists anymore. The point is, neither side knows for sure...they simply act like they know. Yes, yes, I know...die hard dems, you're right, the war was a mistake. Yes, yes, I know...die hard reps, you're right, the war was necessary. Those of us inbetween can probably come to a conclusion that although the war has gotten a tad out of control -- it's war, and only an idiot would assume something like WAR could be "in control" -- but there was probably SOME good that came of this, even with the bad. No matter what way you slice it...war sucks...but sometimes, it's necessary even if unpopular.

Without knowing much about you, it's impossible to tell you how to lift weights. Period. First off, if you're doing track, lifting heavy weight will increase power but possibly slow you down depending on how much mass you gain, more weight to carry around added to the natural loss of flexibility in increasing muscle mass. Ever see a weight-lifter body type on a track star? I think not. You should lift weight to you're focus, and if you're focus is track, tacking on a bunch of muscle mass isn't what you should be looking to do. Second, you have to experiment to find the diet that YOUR body responds too best, not what somebody else had success with. I've been lifting well over 8 years and I've experimented with low to no fat diets, high protein, zero carb after 6pm, etc...and then I've done the opposite, high fat, eat anything I want whenever I want. My results were merely a little extra bodyfat, but other than that, nothing...no slugishness, no loss of power or muscle, etc. Third, what kind of bodytype do you have? (Endo/Ecto/Meso) Judging by your height/weight, I'm going to go ahead and guess you're a ectomorph -- which means you're a naturally slim person and no matter what people sell you, you'll have a harder time gaining muscle than other body types. I'm a mesomorph -- which is a naturally musclular body style. An example of what I was talking about above is my friend (my workout partner) is an ectomorph, and I can do half the work as him in the gym and see 2x the results. That's merely genetics. Not everyone can get that bodybuilder look -- unless they cheat. And I'm talking about no extra protein for me, while he takes in 1.5x his bodyweight and my results are still far greater. Then there is the endomorph -- naturally hefty people. These are the natural power lifters, huge mass, but they have a very hard time keeping a V shaped body -- usually they're more squareish. Anyone not knowing your bodystyle that tells you how to work out -- needs to learn a bit about working out themselves. Everyone is different genetically, and not knowing how someone elses body responds to lifting, diet, etc...and giving them advice on what to eat or how to lift is something I wouldn't do, nor recommend listening too. The only safe advice for a new lifter is use assist machines (hammer strength, nautalis, etc.) as these machines keep your form perfect. Another poster said work on core strength, also a good idea. And ALWAYS be extra extra careful while working on your lower back! Stay away from freeweights until you get enough strength built up to control them -- they're dangerous for newbies because they require a lot of secondary muscle balance -- and keep that in mind no matter what bs someone tries to sell you on freeweights vs machines. To start, use machines if you have them available. Also, don't try to lift what others are lifting. Naturally big people can naturally move more weight. For example, my friend is 225lbs, and can bench 225lbs without ever working out. Throw a 135lb guy on the bench who never works out and he's going to crush himself trying to lift that. Don't worry about what others are doing, the biggest mistake people make in the gym is making it into a contest -- and that usually results in assanine injuries.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 23, 2007 -> 10:48 AM) M is the roman numeral for 1000. You aren't supposed to mix non roman numerals with roman numerals. I get the desgination is supposed to be 12x1000x1000 = 12,000,000 -- however, mixing our number system with the roman number system to create a mythical mathamatical equation is pointless. In english, when discussing dollar value, 12M = 12million.

Something I've always wondered with sports fans and writers...why when they talk about contract signings, do they designate million as MM instead of M? 12M= 12 Million 12MM = ?? Mega Million? Multi Million? Doesn't make sense to me.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 22, 2007 -> 09:05 AM) Finally the one foreshadow that I didn't see anyone mention was the very end where Tony and AJ walk into the light together... Good catch. If it actually meant something, and I hope it did, I hope we see something come of it.

QUOTE(Shamrock4Life @ May 22, 2007 -> 02:26 AM) since BA got sent down before I could get his, I am also thinking about a Danks jersey. You should get a Magglio jersey.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ May 21, 2007 -> 03:40 PM) Anyone also notice what a prick Baccala has become. His character has done a 180 since his first wacking. Next Episode Detail: The Blue Comet - The Sopranos Loyalty to Tony reaches a critical stage for those within his sphere of influence; a case of mistaken identity has grave consequences. Could the mistaken indentity be Meadow? She was supposedly rear ended in this last episode. Which they didn't even elaborate on. I thought that was kinda strange, but if she is driving Tony's car in the next episode and something happens then it would all make sense. It's a stretch, but possible. No, I haven't noticed much about Baccala since he's said a combined 10 words since their huge brawl in episode one, which Tony Soprano healed from in three hours time, so nobody in his crew ever found out about. I think Baccala has also be in about 1.323 minutes of footage SINCE that episode. I thought they'd delve deeper into his psyche being screwed after the wacking, but in typical Soprano fashion, they just ignore it all and move on. Meh. Some of the stuff in this show is annoying, while other parts of it are still really good. IMO, the show has fallen dramatically in terms of quality since season 2 ended. I'm just hoping the show ends in a non-predictable way, because if it ends like Goodfellas -- well, then I'd have to say I already saw that ending, and I liked it better the first time around.

Erstad also brings a presence to the clubhouse, in addition to busting his ass to play everyday. BA is out drinking with Bmac...too busy to notice, or care. Erstad was one of the few hitters doing ANYTHING the past month -- even if he wasn't doing a lot, for 1M$, he was doing more than Konerko, Dye, and Crede -- who all make on average 4X more than Erstad.

Coincidence that our offense wakes up the second Thome returns...and I mean like...THE inning he actually returns to play?